VOWCHURCH & DISTRICT GROUP PARISH COUNCIL
Michaelchurch Escley, Newton, St Margarets, Turnastone, Vowchurch.
Minutes of the Vowchurch & District Group Parish Council meeting held on
Thursday 15th January 2026 in Vowchurch & Turnastone memorial Hall
PRESENT – Councillors E May (Chair), I Chadwick, A Picton, E Williams, T Smith, K Price, D Cross, R Lloyd and S Craddock.
IN ATTENDANCE – Ward Councillor M Engel, PC J Rouse, Revd Luci Morriss, Mrs L Cowles (Clerk) and one member of the public.
- ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Councillors J Kernahan and A Mason.
- RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & CONSIDER ANY WRITTEN APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATION – There were no declarations of interests or written requests for dispensation.
- ADOPT MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – 20th November 2025 – The minutes were signed as a true and accurate record.
- OPEN DISCUSSION – The member of public present raised concerns about flooding in the Turnastone area. In November 2025 there had been two cars abandoned in flood water. They queried who was responsible for clearing the ditches, gullies and drains as Herefordshire Council has indicated that this was the Lengthsman responsibility. The Clerk advised that landowners are responsible for ditches whilst roadside grips and verges are the responsibility of the highway authority. The Parish Council are supportive of the concerns as flooding is always a worry. It was agreed that Ward Councillor Engel would look at the issue. An update was also requested on the Traffic Regulation Order through the villages of Vowchurch & Turnastone. The Clerk confirmed that this was last chased in June 2025 and she would chase again for an update.
4.1 Local Police – PC Rouse reported that there had been an incident locally in November where three masked intruders and been seen at a barn 100 yards from a property in the area although nothing was stolen. Please be vigilant and report and suspicious vehicles. He confirmed that the PCSO’s now finish their shifts at 8pm whilst Police Officers work through to 10pm.
Councillor S Craddock arrived.
4.2 Ward Councillor – Ward Councillor Engels report included: –
Herefordshire Councils budget will be set next month. The £7million rural payment has been abolished by Government which is frustrating when Herefordshire Council has been quite prudent with its finances.
Councillor Leaders are claiming this is the year of delivery!
Shire Hall will open as a library.
The successor of Balfour Beatty has been announced as M Group Highways Ltd.
Councillor Engel has written to the highways department raising concerns of an increase in deer population in the area and near misses on the B4348 through areas of Vowchurch, he has requested that warning signs be erected on the highway.
Ward Councillor Engel left the meeting.
4.3 Lengthsman report – The Lengthsman was unable to attend the meeting. - CLERKS UPDATE – The Clerk advised that Jesse Norman MP was unavailable for either of the suggested dates for the Annual Parish meeting. Councillor May suggested contacting Tom Oliver; Chair of the Trustees of CPRE Herefordshire.
M Group Highways Ltd have been awarded the contract for public realm services at Herefordshire Council.
A grant of £557 has been awarded from the Herefordshire Community Foundation to refurbish the telephone box at Newton.
The Local Government Boundary Commission consultation runs until 2nd February 2026.
Unity Trust bank charges are due to increase from £6.00 per month to £7.00 per month from 1st February 2026. - CONSIDER PLANNING
6.1 PLANNING CONSULTATION (PART 3) CLASS Q – PRIOR APPROVAL GRANTED
Site: Barn at Llanbaddon Farm, Michaelchurch Escley, Herefordshire.
Description: Application to determine if prior approval is required for the conversion of an agricultural building into one dwelling (Use Class C3) and associated works.
Application No: 253013 Grid Ref: 330833:233322
6.2 PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED
Site: Land at Upper House farm, Michaelchurch Escley, Hereford HR2 0JZ
Description: Proposed log cabin for use as a temporary agricultural worker dwelling.
Application No: 251807 Grid Ref: 330846:236503 - FINANCE
7.1 Confirmation of bank balance – £20,281.23 dated 31st December 2025.
To include £6.00 bank charges.
Receipts – £557.00 from Herefordshire Community Foundation grant funding.
7.2 Payment to Mrs Linda Cowles for January 2026 Clerk’s hours and £124.74 gross (VAT £20.79) for PROW postfix Tudors Building supplies invoice no. 15S34691 – Payment agreed.
7.3 Payment to Mr T Griffiths invoice no. TGC3575 roads account November 2025 (1) of £587.16 gross (VAT £97.86), invoice no. TGC 3599 roads account November 2025 (2) of £587.16 gross (VAT £97.86), Invoice no. TGC3619 roads account December 2025 (1) of £587.16 gross (VAT £97.86) and invoice no. TGC3627 roads account December 2025 (2) of £587.16 gross (VAT £97.86) – Payment agreed.
7.4 Payment to St Johns Church Parish Room of £40.00 for hall hire in 2025 – Payment agreed.
7.5 Payment to Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall of £75.00 for hall hire in 2025 – Payment agreed.
7.6 Payment to Walford Timber invoice no. 442077 of £360.00 gross (VAT £60.00) for 3 x stile kits and delivery charge – Payment agreed.
7.7 Payment to Evans Farm & Country Supplies invoice no. SI-319635 of £2587.20 gross (VAT £431.20) for Kissing gates, Marlow gates, and associated materials plus delivery charge – Payment agreed.
7.8 Payment to X2connect of £546.54 gross (VAT £91.09) for telephone box parts – Payment agreed.
7.9 Payment to HMRC for PAYE of £304.20 and NI Contribution of £100.92 from Oct-Dec 2025 – Payment agreed.
7.10 Donations – It was agreed to donate £200.00 to Dore Community Transport. Revd Simon Lockett has requested a donation towards waymarkers on the Golden Valley Pilgrim Way. It was agreed that the Clerk would contact Revd Lockett to ask the cost of the markers. Councillor May has offered help to install them.
7.11 Finance Working Group- The latest quarterly reports were distributed to Councillors prior to the meeting. The finance working group confirmed spreadsheets, invoices and PAYE had been checked and all were in order along with the budget forecast.
7.12 Precept 2026/27 – It was agreed to increase the precept as per the budget at 5% to £19,008.06. - DRAINAGE GRANT FUNDING – The Parish Council had requested funding of £10,000. Only £2236.90 has been awarded by Herefordshire Council. It was agreed to use the funding towards works near Brook Cottage in Newton as per the application, additional works would be completed in the Gilfach Court Area to help alleviate continued flooding further down the road. Following a meeting with the Lengthsman, Councillors Smith and May along with the Clerk and a local resident it was noted that additional works would be needed to the culvert under the road at Brook Cottage to hopefully resolve this issue; although it may not be possible for the Parish Council to fund all this work. The Clerk will contact the Locality Steward for further advise.
- EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY – It was agreed to adopt the Equal Opportunities Policy.
- LENGTHSMAN CONTRACT 2026/27 – The working group has begun to compile a list of working requirements to include document compliance, interviewing the candidates, suggested recruitment timeline and things to consider, it was agreed that this would be circulated to Councillors along with suggested requirements received from Herefordshire Council. Further discussion included quality of people and quality of work, monitoring works and spot checks on maintenance days. It was agreed in the first instance to advertise the position in the February Newsletter along with website and Facebook.
- WELSH WATER – There continues to be problems with water supply in the St Margarets, Bob shop and Percival Place areas. In the last six days there have been three burst water mains with low water pressure reported again this evening. Welsh Water continue to dispute any major issues. It was agreed to write to Jesse Norman MP to request help to resolve this
- NEWSLETTER – Agree items for February Newsletter – Lengthsman contract, Welsh Water issues, defects reporting.
- NOTE THE CORRESPONDENCE SHEET – No further correspondence received.
- RAISE MATTERS FOR THE NEXT ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – Thursday 19th February 2026 at 7.30pm in Escley Sports Pavilion, Michaelchurch Escley – None at present.
The Chair declared the meeting closed at 9pm
Signed……………………………………………………………..
Dated……………………………………………………………..